Mason Bray's patience pays off in emerging as Saguaro's starting quarterback

Not all quarterbacks would have stayed while watching others transfer in trying to take his job. They would have scrambled to find the newest home ASAP.

So when Saguaro coach Zak Hill came in to take over the football gold mine left by Jason Mohns, and much-hyped Hype Grand moved in from Orange, California as the heir apparent to Devon Dampier for the Sabercats, all Bray asked for was a fair shot in spring practices.

It paid off.

But Mason Bray, who grew up in Scottsdale and went through the Saguaro feeder program, playing for the youth football Argonauts, was raised to compete and show he can lead, while being patient and never losing faith.

With Grand limited in spring practices with a shoulder injury, Bray, now a senior, emerged, throwing darts, finding the right targets and showing an uncanny ability to make the right reads and strike downfield with the deep ball. He won the job in the spring, and Grand moved back to California.

He's not Dampier 2.0, but Bray is now the man, ready to lead Saguaro's offense in his own way, hoping his senior year turns into pure gold as the Sabercats make another run to the Open Division state final.

"I just had to be patient," Bray said. "Learning a system under Jason Mohns, I knew everything, all the formations.''

But after the coaching change, Bray said, "I just had to bear down and stick with it. And I'm ready to go."

''Bear Down'' is the University of Arizona motto that his father, Heath Bray, got to know well while playing for the Wildcats' Desert Swarm defense as a defensive back in the early 1990s. And it's something he's taught his son. To be patient. Stick with it. Focus on what he can control.

"It has been a very tough road at Sag over the last year," Heath Bray said. "My approach as a parent is to work hard, don’t take shortcuts, and life will reward you.

"That is contrary to most parents and players these days, who will follow the transfer model, where I benefitted from the development model in my career.  I supported Mason in choosing his school, which was Sag."

Mason Bray, who had a brother and two step-siblings who went to rival Chaparral, took a chapter from his father's football life and persevered while other quarterbacks transferred in.

"Patience," Heath Bray said was the key in how he went from a high school quarterback to playing multiple positions at UA.

Coach Hill has been impressed by how the 6-foot, 175-pound Mason Bray not only handled a tough situation, getting to know a new coach, and competing in the spring with a highly touted transfer, but how he's performed cool under pressure.

"He did a great job in the spring and solidified (the job)," said Hill, a former offensive coordinator at Boise State and Arizona State, where he worked with quarterbacks. "He's just been really good. He's been consistent. He's got good speed. He can get out of things and create. He's got really good arm strength. He's accurate. He can throw with pressure in his face. He's got good vision. He finds guys. He's a very good player."

Saguaro's high-profile players are ready to roll with Bray as their new offensive leader.

"He's been waiting all three years," said two-way player JoJo Clark, a receiver/running back/nickel back. "He's been waiting. He's going to show out for you."

There will be times when Bray will roll out and make something happen with his legs. But it is his arm that should make big splash plays with a receiving corps that includes the addition of former Basha playmaker Bryson Dedmon, who may have to wait until halfway through the season before becoming eligible because of transfer rules.

A healthy Jaci Dickerson is back at receiver, along with Mason Whitaker and Spence Jacobi, to go with two-way standout Dajon Hinton.

"Mason Bray is the guy," said tailback Jaedon Matthews, who also will be used to catch passes downfield. "He is showing out. He's a gunslinger for sure. He will show out this season."

Heath Bray thinks back at how his son developed as a person and a player during his years at Saguaro waiting for his turn.

"I am close with a number of coaches on Zak’s staff," Heath said. "Great men that have mentored Mason over the years.  We cannot overlook their importance in Mason staying and working hard for Saguaro."

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert atrichard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter@azc_obert

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Mason Bray patience pays off in emerging as Saguaro's starting quarterback